The Manong (Military) Titlehip of Nso.

There are different types of military organization or militia groups in the Nso Kingdom. Mfu’ is the only military group that is called manjong. The other military groups are called njong. The three anjong in Nso land are Jwim, Nchoro’, and Mekuu. These are the Nso military group that can never admit a woman as their member. The only anjong that can upgrade to a manjong are Jwim, Nchoro’, and Mekuu. Other anjong such as Kinag, Kom, Kweeberi, Gkiy, Mekuv, Meshev, Ngwaa, Saamba, Shijom’, etc cannot never upgrade to manjong.

The main purpose of these military organizations was for hunting, inter-tribal wars, and defense of the Nso’ nation. Nso’ fought major defensive and offensive wars in the nineteenth and twentieth (Fanso, page 101 African grassroots). The Nso’ wars of these centuries included the Noni wars of expansion against Din, Dom, Njottin, Lasin, Mbinon, and Nkor (Fanson p. 101). The Nso’ war with Bamum to avenge the murder of the Nso princess (Yee Ne’) was around the 1830s. Nso’ fought the Nsungli wars around the mid-nineteenth century, and the German war in 1906 (Mbidda 1991. P101). It is during the German war of 1906 that the sculpture of Yaa Ngonnso was taken from the Nso’ palace in Kimbo. Because of these numerous wars, Nso’ needed to organize the men into fighting group houses called Manjong.

During the reign of Fon Sembum, the Nso’ military groups were known as manjong. The anjong groups included nchoro’, shijom, jwim, Mekong, mekuv, kweebiri, samba, and gwa’. Saamba was copied from Babah around the early part of the twentieth century (Fanso). At that time, Nso’ was not more involved in inter-tribal wars. Thus, technically, saamba was never a war group of Nso’. Unlike the other amajong fraternities, Saamba was never a militia group. Women participated in Saamba dances, and most catholic churches started their own saamba, with the inclusion of men and women as members. Mfu’ was the most senior of all the fraternities and the most important wing of Manjong Nso.

When Fon Tamanjong succeeded his father Fon Sembum, he changed the name of Manjong Nso’ to Mfu’; a name that was imported from Bamum. Fon Tamanjong was the second Fon to be installed in Kimbo (Mzeka p.18). Fon Tamanjong did not only change the name of Manjong Nso’; but went further to reorganize Manjong Nso’ into Mfu’ Gham and Mfu’ Ba’ (Mzeka p18). Some writers have postulated that Tamanjong changed the name of Manjong Nso’ to Mfu’ to prevent the confusion of his name and that of the military group of Nso’. The highest-ranking leader of the military group is Mfoome, who is the Mfu’ general.

The aMfoome were responsible for leading the Nso’ militia group to wars and huntings. These amanjong had special days and these men came together for recreation, discussions of belligerent strategies, and planning of hunting strategies. The Fon called the Mfoome Gham as Fon Kong, meaning the king of the spear. The Mfoome Gham is the leading Mfoome of Nso’. The title of Mfoome Nso’ were only reserved for Mfoome Gham and Ba’, but we now have honorary Mfoome Nso’. The spear was a popular weapon that was used by the militia groups for hunting and wars. The Mfoome Ba’ used to be an ex-page of Ndzendzev and Mfoome Gham an ex-page of Nwerong.

The Manjong were not only in the palace. In the early 1900s, we had Mfu’ Visov, Mfu’ Ngonrin, and Mfu’ Ntsenla. The leader of the manjong group was commonly called Taa Manjong. The Mfoome had the power to lead manjong to war but had no powers to declare war. Only the Fon could declare war with another tribe, and the mfoome was always ready to follow the matching orders of the Fon. Nwerong remains the police Force of Nso, and Nwerong could not declare war in Nso. Nwerong was not involved in wars, serve as the community police force.

The senior ranking leader of Mfu’ is Mfoome. In the Mfu’ Gham, the Mfoome is assisted by Tav Mfu’, Taafon, Nyaang, Lav Gham etc. The person in charge of taking care of the Mfu’ items is Tav Mfu’. In Mfu Mba, we have Nwaaji, Ndze Ba’, Lav Ba’, Gwey and many other.

Manjong Military General- Mfoome Bah and Mfoome Gham.

The Nso military group was divided around the 1830s by Fon Tamanjong into Mfu’ Gham and Mfu’ Ba’. Mfoome Gham and Mfoome Ba’ headed these groups, respectively. The Fon, in respect of their valor and character, appointed the Mfoome of the Mfu’.  These titles were conferred for life, and they could only be revoked by an act of a felony, such as having an affair with a Wiynto’. In Nso’, only the Mfoome of the palace has the privilege of clashing their cutlasses with the Fon during the manjong maleri dance (fanso). Each Mfoome receives a ngem li’ or ngem kili’. Also, a new mfoome received ciciwar (white flag), which they carry to war, and the mfoome also displays that during the manjong maleri dance. The Mfoome of the palace can also wear the wav atavnjong for warfare during the maleri dance. In Nto’ Nso, only Mfoome Gham is called Fon Kong (the king of the spear of the palace). The Mfoome Gham can serve as interpreter for the Fon because he is of the Nchelav lineage. The nyaang and Gwey are responsible for maintaining discipline and Gham and Ba’ respectively. 

After winning the war, the troops returned triumphantly to the Nso’ palace with their captives and the skulls of the enemies killed during the war. The skulls were displayed in manjong houses as a sign of bravery. The warriors will sing manjong songs and dance the nsii dance (victory dance). Some of the warriors will show off their strength with their spears, cutlasses, shields, and guns. Some will carry the kighaa (jawbone calabashes) on their shoulders. At the end of the victory celebrations, the Fon will decorate the heroes with fe nsii (a red feather) and will feed the manjong with food and palm-wine for defending the throne and the nation. 

The state Mfoome (Mfoome wong or Mfoome kitum) will tie koonte (a creeping passiflora specie) on the right arms of every warrior who killed or captured an enemy during the combat war. During wars, the Nso’ warriors were exempt from killing women and children. In addition, the Nso’ militiamen preferred to capture men of equal ranks like them, instead of killing them. The skulls of Mfoome and Fon were given traditional rituals, preserved with care, and treated with reverence. 

Other military titles:

As mentioned above, some military titles are only for Manjong Gham, and some are for Manjong Ba’. Tav Mfu’ is to Gham as Nwaayi it to Ba’. Lav Gham is to Gham as Lav Ba’ is to Gham. Taafon is only for Mfu’ Gham. Nyaang is to Gham as Gwey is to Ba’. Both houses have Tav Njong. All military titleholders wear read feathers, except the Gwey who wears a kisee cap. The red feather (fee fen) symbolizes bravery and a reminder of blood shed during war times.

Modern day manjong.

The modern manjong has become more of a social gathering and a place for singing, eating, and drinking palm wine and beer. Since there are no longer wars, it is difficult for any manjong to show its bravery. The modern manjong can show its bravery in supporting community development projects. With development as the epicenter, manjong leaders must be able to rally their troops for community development projects. Thus, manjong has lost it cultural military role, and it is now more of a recreational group.

Some of these manjong titles are peculiar to the paramount Fondom of Nso. Manjong titles of Taafon, Lav Ba’, Lav Gham Dze Ba’, and Nwaayi are only found in Mfu’ Gham and Mfu’ Ba’, and all manjong with these titles are offsprings of Mfu’ Gham and Mfu’ Ba’.

References  to follow.